lone parents housework / keep fit / healthy eating thread

[meglet]

We can only do the best we can. No point in going on housework threads if you're a working LP who never has a break from the kids. Or if you're a SAHM LP with small kids who can't get to the gym.

So, a thread for us to start the New Year with good intentions and to juggle it around everything else we have to do .

• I banned Minecraft today and tomorrow after some shocking behaviour (kicking each other in the supermarket) the dc's had a burst of enthusiasm, dysoning and tidying up to get back in my good books.
  
  

• I have managed to get out for a few runs over Xmas. We stayed with my mum for a couple of days so I went out then.
  

Here's to a positive start to 2015.

[Mcyorkshire1]

I like this thread. I need a kick up the bottom to get myself sorted in the New Year after showing a distinct lack of enthusiasm for cooking and housework following DH's death in August. 2015 will be a better year; I need to lose weight, exercise and just live life a bit more I think. Sounds like you've got off to a good start though OP...at least my two are too young for electronics at the moment!

[BlackeyedSantaStuckUpAChimney]

oh fabulous.. this is exactly what I need. what a great idea.

this years resolution is to get rid of a lot of stuff. (preferably all of ex's) sort out storage and tidy up.

(no chance of a flock of flying pigs)

ds has asd and rampages. he can cause an hours tidying in less than a minute.

dd has dypsraxia like issues... and I am not so light on my feet either and have a severe aversion to paperwork.

the flat is too small for the amount of stuff and is currently impossible to keep tidy. I am going to attempt to improve it by the end of the year.

so strap on your size nines and give me a boot up the rear some encouragement.

Mcyorkshire it is still very early yet. be gentle and start gradually. so sorry you had to join this thread in such circumstances.

goal setting: a little bit per day. minimum of five minutes extra tidying, which on a good day gets longer but a short target means I actually start instead of sitting in a corner weeping.

[mugglelady]

I'm in! I seriously need to make some time to exercise and tone up - starting from Monday!!

Here's to a fab 2015

[mugglelady]

Sorry for your loss McYorkshire

Yes, I agree blackeyed Santa, I also try and tackle my clutter in small steps, normally it Spurs me on to do more.

[Mcyorkshire1]

Thanks...early days but need to be strong for the boys and sick of feeling lethargic. They deserve better so my intention is to meal plan and online shop every Sunday evening and fit in a 30 minute workout every other day. I won't beat myself up if I don't always manage it but think I'll start feeling better if I start treating myself better. Will ignore the housework issue a bit longer I think...!

[BlackeyedSantaStuckUpAChimney]

try and keep the house from getting worse. learn from my mistakes... let everything go a bit after dad died. far too much really. mind you it does not take much for easing off for things to start getting out of hand. anyway. I have to do my five minutes today... actually, I have done five minutes today while the children were in the bath... tidied some of the bathroom. it is a ridiculously large bathroom and would be much better employed as a small bathroom and a bigger bedroom.

[pumpkinpie5]

Hi all

I'm in on this one too. Need to lose weight and start living healthily too. My mental health suffers when I don't look after myself. I work full time and have a five year old dd. Not making resolutions because I never stick to them but agree that making small changes is the way to go.

Am going to try fitting runs/exercise around my full time job- lunch hour DVDs when working from home etc. And more every other weekend when dd with her dad.

This thread will hopefully help with my motivation!

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

I like the idea behind this, will come back later when my phone charged.

[RedBushedT]

I'd love to join in too. I'm mum to two, work full time and struggle to be arsed cooking healthily which is not good for any of us. Small changes seems a good way to gradually alter those bad habits I have!

[meglet]

mcyorkshire sorry to hear about your DH. I don't blame you for letting things slide. Here's to small improvements in 2015.

[meglet]

pumpkin not sure if you've heard of it but there's a neat exercise DVD range called '10 minute solutions'. I've got the boxset of 4 DVD's, each with 5 x 10 min workouts. I don't think it was that expensive, around £12.99? Anyway, one or two of them can be fitted in to lunchbreaks.

For anyone who has a break from their kids everyother weekend, or is willing to bribe them with a maccy D's breakfast (um, me) then there's always the 3m / 5k Parkrun, every saturday at 9am. 8yo DS loves it and I'm hoping it will get easier when 6yo DD is older, she's not a natural runner . The good thing is, it's free, don't have to commit and there are other adults there too!

I'm ok at the keep fit stuff. I just need some inspiration for keeping the house tidy . We took the tree down today which always helps.

[chestnut100]

I'm in for this: I'm absolute determined this will be my year to get back on top of everything! Exercise, healthier eating, more organised home etc. not easy as lp to 2 and 4 year old whilst back at uni to train as a nurse. But onwards and upwards right?!

[Wotsitsareafterme]

I'm marking my place and joining. Dc are 5 and 2 and I work part time. I just want to look good! Selfish I know

[sleepingdragon]

I will join too. My DS is only 6 months, but I have been fantasising today about how I can arrange things to fit in some exercise, and was thinking of starting a thread to find out how others fit things in. Not sure how yet- I used to cycle to work and swim, but not keen on putting DS in a bike child seat in London. thinking about it now though I can get to a big park quite easily, and should also look into the swimming pool creche. While its so cold I will start with sorting my diet, or at least that's my excuse for finishing off the Christmas chocolates this evening!

[onionlove]

Me too! I am over 2 stone overweight, house needs a sort out to make it easier to clean and tidy, I have been eating so badly for over six months. I have 2 dcs 5 and 2 so always running around, work 4 days, need to get into a new regime, happy new year everyone x

[warmleatherette]

Can I join? I actually managed to do quite a bit on the house this year (kids started school) in terms of redecorating and learning to use a drill. Would like to replace some of our dodgy carpets with self-adhesive floor tile. I've never been any good at DIY but I can't afford to pay someone and needs must, right?

[warmleatherette]

Sorry, I know this is turning into an exercise thread but I put DIY, decluttering and housework into the same category in my mind!

[Celestria]

I'd like to join in too. I need to give myself a good boot up the backside. Been feeling sorry for myself and allowing myself to slip back into depression. Well no more!

My plans are to get up at the same time every day. Start the day with 30 minutes of just dance on the wii. I have put together a cleaning list and am going to do it in 15 minute segments.

I love cooking and will be meal planning again. I have two slow cookers now, so plan on doing over night porridge in one and soup in the other. Breakfast for the kids and soup for dps lunch.

Other little things I will be doing is keeping a diary. Listening to hypnosis at bed time, really relaxing. Plus trying to stay positive.

[chestnut100]

Happy new year all! This is my last day of "slobbing". Pizza Hut with kids later then that is it! The kids are in nursery tomorrow so I'm using the day to blitz the house. I'm going to do a DIY detox for three days then commence a much healthier eating programme Monday.

Anyone else got a loose plan for the week ahead?

[FarOverTheRainbow]

Oo can I join? I'm a LP to my 2yr old DD. Things have been stressful with Xp through courts and stuff so I've let things slide but need to get back motivated.

I need to declutter, get into some better habits with housework, sort out storage and general DIY round the house which I've been putting off and I would love to hopefully manage to go to an exercise class once a week of my DD liked the crèche

Happy 2015 everyone

[AdventuringAbout]

Oo I'm in! Lone parent to three year old. The house is in relatively good shape due to obsessive quite a lot of chucking out lately, but I am really really blobby. Way too much comfort eating after LO bedtime through a tough 2014! If I could just manage to not eat after their bedtime, I think it would make a huge difference. Like a PP, my aim is to achieve that every other day, and I've just ordered an exercise DVD to be done once a week during a precious nursery morning.

[meglet]

warm I need to clean the inside of my windows. I might go and do it now, self ban from MN until it's done....

[warmleatherette]

Ooh I love cleaning windows Meglet - I'll give you a (virtual) hand.

[Rummikub]

Great idea for a thread. Need to get my house sorted, finalise divorce settlement :( eat healthily (just starting to cook again would be great!), some yoga type thing at home.
I'm on the kondoe thread and that really is brilliant. I've let motivated and addicted to Decluttering!

Mcyorkshire

[meglet]

rummikub the Kondo thread is great, I dip in and out of it.

The other trick I like is the 40 bags in 40 days project, think it's usually for Lent? Maybe we could all do a bag a day all year?! Whether that's a small bag of outgrown / tatty clothes to the fabric recyling bin, binning a pile of half scribbled used colouring books, or making a start on the pile of debris in the garden?

I think that my limit for extra tidying is 15 mins a day, it was fine cleaning the inside windows warm . Tomorrow I'm going to blitz the bathroom window sill. The day after I can clean the shelf.